Mankato, Minn. ---  Minnesota State sophomores Kelly Wood and Lindsay Erickson went a combined 7-for-7 with five runs batted in and four runs scored to pace sixth-ranked Minnesota State to an 11-3, six-inning victory over Fort Lewis (30-25) Friday afternoon in the opening round of the NCAA Central Sub-Regional.

The Mavericks struck first as Wood won a 15-pitch battle with a single to rightcenter, scoring Lindsay Erickson who had walked and senior centerfielder Chelsea Erickson who had reached on a fielders’ choice.

Wood – who moved to third on the single because of a throwing error –­­ scored when sophomore shortstop Abby Sonner singled up the middle.  Sonner swiped second base and later scored when freshman third baseman Brittani Robinson doubled down the leftfield line, pushing the Maverick advantage to 4-0 after an inning of play.

Fort Lewis tacked on a run in the second with a Natalie Janes home run – her tenth of the season.  The Skyhawks added another run in the top of the third to trim the MSU lead to 4-2.

The Mavericks responded in the bottom of the third as Lindsay Erickson blasted the first pitch of her offering over the rightcenter fence for her tenth home run of the season.  Chelsea Erickson followed with a double to shallow leftfield before scoring as Wood laced a double down the leftfield line.

The Skyhawks answered in the top of the fourth as first baseman Stephanie Janes singled to rightfield, scoring rightfielder Destinee DeHerrera who had earlier singled, to cut the Maverick advantage to 6-3.

Minnesota State got the run back in the bottom half of the inning as senior rightfielder Melanie Upchurch reached on an error and moved to second base on a sacrifice bunt off the bat of sophomore leftfielder Lauryn Morris.

Upchurch crossed the plate when Lindsay Erickson laced a triple down the rightfield line, pushing the Maverick advantage to 7-3.

The Mavericks opened the bottom of the fifth inning with a single up the middle off the bat of Wood.  Robinson then followed with a one-out double to rightcenter.  Wood then scored on a passed ball as MSU extended its lead to 8-3 after five innings.

Minnesota State ended the game with three runs in the bottom of the sixth as Uphcurch reached on an infield single and moved to second when Morris was hit by a pitch.  Lindsay Erickson singled through the leftside to load the bases for her sister, Chelsea, who followed with a single of her own to leftfield, plating Upchurch and Morris.

Sophomore pinch runner Eryn Edgerton scored the game’s final runs as Wood concluded her four-hit day with a single to left field.

Minnesota State (48-8) faces Concordia University tomorrow at 11 a.m., for the right to play in Sunday's championship game.


Post game comments from head coach Lori Meyer, Kelly Wood and Lindsay Erickson